Adopting a 1.5°C pathway could accelerate universal energy access in Africa

Africa has a narrow window of opportunity to use its natural resource advantages and relatively low carbon emissions to attract the finance it needs to both accelerate a renewables-based energy transition that is supportive of a sub-1.5°C climate outcome and ensure universal energy access. This was the message of Dalberg Group executive director James Mwangi during an Africa Renewable Energy Dialogue this week, convened by the International Renewable Energy Agency, United Nations (UN) High-level Climate Action Champions, the African Climate Foundation and the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
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Fund lends €25m to Côte d’Ivoire clean energy hydropower project

The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), owned by the Private Infrastructure Development Group, is lending €25-million over 18 years to Ivoire Hydro Energy (IHE), which will build a 44 MW hydroelectric plant on the Bandama river near the village of Singrobo, in Côte d’Ivoire. Financial close on the €174-million project is expected in the third quarter of this year. Construction will take about 36 months.
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Sturdee Energy signs two PPAs for Botswana renewable energy projects

Independent power producer Sturdee energy has entered into two power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) for two renewable energy IPP projects. The projects, located in Bobonong and Shakawe, will have an installed capacity of 3 MW and 1 MW, respectively.
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Zimplats plans 185 MW solar power plants

Impala Platinum Holdings Zimbabwe unit Zimplats plans to build two solar power plants with generation capacity of 185 MW to power its operations, the country’s energy regulator said on Monday. The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority said Zimplats, the biggest platinum group metals producer in Zimbabwe applied to build a 105 MW plant at Ngezi, southwest of Harare, where it has mines and two concentrators, and 85 MW at nearby Selous where there is a smelter and concentrator.
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$31m mixed-use office precinct to be built in Mauritius

Mauritius-based Gateway Real Estate Africa (GREA) is developing a $31-million mixed-use office development – The Precinct – in Grand Baie. The development is designed to accommodate corporate tenants’ fluctuating space needs in addition to catering for the gig economy with rentable desks, access to a shared boardroom and conference facilities, as well as individual work pods.
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FMF calls for accelerated gazetting of 100 MW distributed generation licensing-exemption threshold

Independent nonprofit public benefit organisation the Free Market Foundation (FMF) is calling on government to accelerate the process of detailing and Gazetting President Cyril Ramaphosa’s June announcement about raising the threshold for companies to produce their own electricity without a licence, to 100 MW.

During his June announcement, Ramaphosa said he would give Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe 60 days to Gazette the amendment.

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Report calls for freeze on new coal, warns of risks if energy transition is delayed

South Africa should freeze investment in new private coal plants, as delaying South Africa’s “inevitable” transition away from the carbon-emitting energy mineral will cause economic damage, a new Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) analysis on the country’s coal value chain states. Co-authored by TIPS economists Neva Makgetla and Muhammed Patel, the report argues that the coal sector is mired in a classic process of creative destruction, whereby disruptive technologies have developed to a point where older assets can no longer compete and ultimately have to be written off.
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Eskom enhances its digital platforms

State-owned power utility Eskom has embarked on a digital journey to increase its availability and accessibility to its customers. The enhanced MyEskom Customer app and the introduction of Alfred the chatbot are the first of many digital solutions to be launched to enhance Eskom’s customer self-help channels, the embattled electricity provider said on July 23.
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Micro-Grid Academy Young Talent awards recognise eight finalists for innovation

The Micro-Grid Academy Young Talent of the Year 2021 Awards have named eight finalists from across Africa in recognition of their sustainable energy innovations.

This yearly competition is backed by RES4Africa Foundation, Enel Green Power and the European Investment Bank (EIB). It encourages young entrepreneurs from across Africa to develop projects that expand energy access, enable greater use of renewable energy and accelerate sustainability.

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AfDB finances cross-country power initiative, youth development in Ethiopia

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed two grant agreements for new projects with the Ethiopian government, which aims to boost youth employment and electricity trade between Ethiopia and Djibouti.

The grants are grouped under the bank’s concessional lending window and will comprise $47-million towards productivity enhancement in agricultural industrial parks and $71-million to power interconnection between the two countries.

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